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Unfortunately, despite trying with all my might, I didn’t seem to get any noticeable results. Maybe something was happening, but I wasn’t sure.

I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s all my imagination. It was really hard to work with just feelings.

It wasn’t my first time trying to learn something by myself, but usually I had at least an example or a direction to move in.

Well, just another challenge, I thought, opening my eyes and finding the room completely dark.

I had a moment of panic at the resurfacing memory, but it quickly subsided.

It seems that I’ll need some more time to get over it, I thought, sighing.

I could hear the other two breathing on my left and right. Zeph had probably blown the candles before hitting the sack. He probably thought I was asleep since I was lying down.

It was hot, so it would have been good if I could open the window, but Zeph said Thieves could easily enter from there. He even put a trinket that made noise if someone tried to slip in.

Since I wasn’t feeling tired yet, I passed the time by planning how to train while traveling. I needed to find a way to keep my body in shape other than training with mana after all.

I thought for a while, then my mind wandered and I fell asleep.

The next morning when I woke up It was still dark inside the room, but I could already see some light filtering through the shutters, so it was probably just before dawn.

I could feel the other two still sleeping.

I laid there gathering my thoughts for a while, then I sat up. May as well try out one of my theories.

I thought of a few things that could be amazing if they worked, and I couldn't wait.

Since I needed to move this time, I didn't enter meditation. Ever since my evolution, I could feel mana constantly — meditation only helped me to sense it better.

I also used my Attributes while walking the previous day, just to see if I could. While it took some time to get a hang of it, by the time we reached the village I could control them fairly easily if I wasn’t too distracted. It was a bit annoying trying to cut myself without Zeph seeing, but I managed.

I want to use them in battle too, though, so I’ll need some more practice while walking today.

Now, though, I had to do something else.

I looked at my hand, barely visible through the dim light. I could feel the mana inside. Like in every other part of my body, it was still.

It wasn't like it couldn't move, though.

I noticed that when I was healing, the mana around the wound got consumed, making it less concentrated, while mana from the other parts of my body would move to keep the amount balanced everywhere.

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To test one of my theories, I wanted to try to pull mana on just one body part.

I had to focus quite a lot to succeed, but I could see results not long after I started.

Good, first step successful. Now I just needed a lot of practice to move it better.

Onto the next, then.

I stretched my hand and grabbed the wooden headboard of the bed. I then spent a lot of time to amass most of my mana on my arm and tried to squeeze with my hand. Nothing changed.

After a few more unsuccessful tries, I let my mana go and tried to think of another solution.

Mm… maybe concentrating it is not the right way.

I then got an idea. What if I use my mana to squeeze with my hand?

Thinking about it, mana was evenly distributed inside my body, so it was in the shape of my body and moved with it. But can it move my body?

I tried it right away. I grabbed the headboard and started squeezing, imagining the mana inside my hand squeezing with it. After some time I heard the wood creak. I could feel it giving slightly, then I had to quit.

Damn, it’s hard! I had to focus really hard to succeed, but I had proven my point. And that was all I needed.

I always had the belief that anything that a Skill could do I could do too if I put in enough effort, and I was usually proven right. There was no need to buy the damn Skills from Priests.

There were a few exceptions though. One of those exceptions were Skills that used mana.

Humans can’t use mana. That was a belief that I too held until the other day.

Not anymore though!

There were so many things I could try. I could get so much more powerful!

It may take some time for my training to give some results, but I was sure I could do it. I could feel it.

I'm the best!!!

I was so excited I could laugh… and I did. “Hahahahahahaha!”

Life was getting better and better.

“What’s happening?!” Shouted Zeph, sitting up and interrupting my joy.

I looked at him.

“I was having a wonderful morning, until you woke up.” I was still feeling a bit pissed at him.

“What?” He asked confused.

I rolled my eyes.

“Get up and open the damn window. I have no idea how to take off that trinket you put up,” I said, urging him.

It was time to go. The sun must have been rising, judging by the light getting through the shutters.

“Hey Freya, get up,” I said, giving her a shove.

“Ah…” she said, opening her eyes.

She seemed a bit out of it. She slept a lot after all.

“Morning, princess. It’s time to go,” I said, chuckling. “Today you’re gonna suffer twice as much, so prepare yourself.”

She was going to be sore everywhere. Not to mention the bloody feet.

I was momentarily blinded by the light coming from the window when Zeph opened the shutters, but quickly adapted.

I then noticed something that I missed just before. “Hey, what happened to your broken nose? Why are you all healed?”

I wasn't happy about it. I was looking forward to seeing his potato nose. He was still pretty boy instead.

“I used a salve, of course,” he said, giving me a glare. “Do you think I wanted to stay with a broken nose?”

Fucking rich boy.

“Tch…” I said. Then something came to mind. “Hey! You’re full of healing potions and salves, right?”

He was rich, after all.

“I have a few. But I can’t restock them, and I don’t feel like sharing right now.” He seemed to be still pissed about the broken nose. Such a petty guy.

“But you will use them if needed, right?” He was feeling guilty after all, so he wasn’t a total bastard. He'll share if the situation calls it.

“If the situation calls, yes. But I will be the one to decide that.”

Huhuhuhu. As expected.

I gave him a grin.

“Don’t worry, I will ask you only if it’s really needed. You can decide.”

He looked at me uneasily for some reason, then shook his head.

“Let’s prepare and go have breakfast,” he said while moving to pick up his things.

We then all went down and had some breakfast, also picking up the rations we had asked the previous day.

As expected, Freya was walking all strange. It was fun to look.

“So, have you found anything troubling in your map for the next few kilometers?” I asked Zeph.

He looked at me strangely.

“I can’t guarantee a hundred percent, but it should be safe for now.”

I clapped my hands.

“Good! Because I have a few things to try out. And I also want to ask if you have something that could help.”

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